70,000 water bottles from London Marathon recycled

London, Apr 16 (UNI) Sunday's London Marathon added to the workload of Westminster City Council which recycled up to 70,000 plastic water bottles from the event alone.

The bottles were discarded by the runners during the Westminster section of Marathon and double the quantity of cardboard was also worked upon for reuse as cardboard packaging.

Necessary arranements were made along the route of the Marathon.

Fourteen special recycling points were sited along the route in the City to make it easier for the crowds to deposit their bottles.

Forty strong street cleaning teams were pressed in service by the Council to remove any bottles left on the ground.

The council also cleaned up over five tonnes worth of litter.

Hours before the event, on Saturday night, the council's street cleaning team ensured that all of the carriageways on the route that passed through Westminster were ready to welcome the 36,000 Marathon runners.

Dr Leith Penny, Westminster Council's Director of Environment and Leisure, reportedly said: "Every year, the London Marathon is a very special day for London. As ever, we are working behind the scenes to ensure that the event constitutes a fun day out for runners and for spectators alike, and that the only thing the participants have to worry about is reaching the finishing line.

"But the council works to achieve a Marathon standard of cleanliness every day of the year.

The marathon route started from the City of London down Victoria Embankment up to Bridge Street, across Parliament Square and into Great George Street.

It then went along the Birdcage Walk and in front of Buckingham Palace before transecting the finishing line on The Mall.